Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-05
xLIX. CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, February 1, 1887.
GPnnfe

Mr.. Hoar, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported hack, with an amend
ment in the nature of substitute, the
House Joint resolution authorizing an
investigation of the books, accounts,
and methods of the Pacific railroads
which have received aid from the United
States. He asked that the substitute he
read, and moved that the matter be
taken up for consideration.
Mr. Hale said that the substitute was
a long document, and he objected 10 its
immediate consideration.
Mr.. Hoar said that the substitute had
the appreciation of all the members OF
the Judiciary Committee, although he
had dissented from it himself. He
thought it might pass the Senate with
out discussion.
Mr.. Hale said he did not know that
lie was opposed to it, but he thought it
had better go over.
The Joint resolution was placed on
the calendar, and Mr.. Hoar gave notice
that be should call it up for action at
the first possible moment
The resolution offered by hr. Call
yesterday while the doors were closed,
making the daily session from ii A.
NJ. to 8 p. NJ, was taken up and re-
ferred to the Committee on Appropria-
tons.
The Senate then proceeded to the
consideration of Senate bill to credit
and pay to several States and Terrific
ries the amounts collected under the
direct tax levied by the act of August
5, 1861.
Mr.. Sherman advocated and ex-
planned the bill. He said that it had
been several times recommended by
the Treasury Department, partly as an
act of justice and partly to relieve the
Department of legal complications. 1t
referred to the tax of twenty millions
imposed during the war upon all States
North and South. To those northern
States which paid it promptly dis
count of ID per cent. had been allowed;
but some few of those States did not
pay it promptly, and since the war
some OF it had been collected from
some Of the southern States. The
charges for the quota due by the south
ern States stood against them on the
books Of the Treasury, and the amounts
due to them from the Treasury could
not be paid while these charges stood
there. Under these circumstances three
or four Secretaries Of the Treasury had
recommended that out of an overflow
ing Treasury there be paid back to the
States amounts received from them, and
that other States be credited with their
share of the tax. The bill was mani
testify just. II has been uniformly re-
commended by the Treasury Depart
ment, and had been unanimously re-
commended by the Committee on
Finance. The aggregate OF the amount
to be refunded would be about Sl4,-
coo, 900 or $l5, 900, 900.
Mr.. Van WICK argued against the
bill as part of general scheme to de
plete the Treasury. II the southern
States were not able to pay their quota
of that direct tax he would have the
debt forgiven to them. The people
who paid tax would derive no advan-
tage from the bill. His belief was that
this was only one of the kindred propo-
sitions to deplete the Treasury, so that
there would &c no apparent excuse for
what the people really de-
manded--a reduction of taxation, which
now weighed heavily on them.
After further discussion, the bill was
passcd--yeas, 50; nays, ! Ivan Wyck).
The bin directs the Secretary OF the
Treasury to credit 10 each State and